Thursday, February 22, 2018

(New Delhi) Currently there is a political crisis in the Maldives. The
President Abdulla Yameen, has taken on an air of a policy of connecting Islam
with anti-Western rhetoric and as India the big neighbour across the way is
Hindu has made his bed with China, which just happens to be India’s nemesis .

Anyway early in February, the Maldives Supreme Court dropped
charges against opposition leader and pro-Indian former President Mohammed
Nasheed, and ordered that 12 opposition parliamentarians who had been stripped
of their seats be reinstated. President Abdulla Yameen was having none of that
and overruled the court’s decision and declared a state of emergency. Two Supreme
Court judges and another former pro-Indian president, Maumoon Abdul Gayoom,
were arrested on charges of attempting to overthrow the government. In the
chaos that ensued, both Yameen and Nasheed appealed to regional powerhouses for
their support. Yameen sent envoys to China, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in a bid
to strengthen his position. Nasheed, who is currently outside the Maldives,
took to Twitter to request a military-backed envoy from India. The EU sent in a delegation and held a meeting with the opposition, but was denied
talks with the ruling government, which it has accused of cracking down on
democracy.

The 7500 tonnes Type 052D guided missile destroyer
(Luyang-III class) is among the world's biggest and most
capable destroyers. Equipped with advanced
radar and two 32-cell Vertical Launch Systems (VLS) for various missiles. It is presumed that the Type 052D has capabilities similar to
those of the US Arleigh Burke class general-purpose destroyers.

The 4000 tonne Type 054A frigate (Jiangkai II) is a class of Chinese multi-role frigates, the first of
which entered service with the People's Liberation Army Navy Surface Force in
2007. It has a hard-to-pick
stealthy design and good anti-ship and counter-submarine capability.

The 25000 tonne Type 071 amphibious transport ship is geared for beach
landing troops. An array of amphibious landing craft, assault vehicles and two
back-up helicopters are used for sea-to-land deployment of around 800 troops,
equivalent of an army battalion.

“Overall, the Chinese
Navy is sending out an amphibious convoy fleet with strong regional air
defence, anti-ship and anti-submarine capabilities and the ability to deliver
rather large-scale amphibious troops quickly,”